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Concerned about Springetts EMS service

Letter to the Editor

Updated:
10/08/2012 02:00:56 PM EDT

I am writing in regards to the EMS situation in Springettsbury Township. As you know, the Springettsbury Board of Supervisors and the township manager are looking to outsource the EMS service in the township. When I first got word of this I started doing some more detailed research on a serious issue I thought we already had with the EMS service. I am an avid scanner enthusiast and I listen on a daily basis. I had already noticed that a good portion of the EMS calls in Springettsbury Township were being handled by outside EMS units.

I bought myself a pager then I spent the months of July and August keeping track of these calls. I found the numbers to be disturbing. I attended a board meeting and presented those numbers to the board. I recommended to the board that they consider adding another ambulance instead of outsourcing the one we have. It seems that they didn't really care and that they had their minds made up as to what they wanted the township manager to do.

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They did post in the township newsletter that they would be sending a fire truck out on EMS calls. The truth of the matter is that you will only see a fire truck when the ambulance is busy and/or has an extended arrival time. I kept doing my research and the numbers in my opinion were still disturbing. I would like to use this writing to bring media and public awareness to this situation. I have always felt that there were not enough EMS units in this county as it were. I feel that every fire department in this county should house an EMS and/or paramedic unit. I have taken the time to publish my findings on my website for anyone who is interested in the numbers. You can access this info at http://www.ycdesonline.net/ems.htm. I will keep the info. updated as quickly as I can, so please be patient. Stay safe. BOBBY SAWYERSPRINGETTSBURY TOWNSHIP

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